Christmas Memories--Part 1

I downloaded over 600 pictures of Christmas memories. Don't panic--I decided not to post them all. I will share just a few to give my readers an idea of how our time was spent. Before we left for the north land, we had our family Christmas here.

Julianna gets her stocking down.

Doyle gets a brain teaser puzzle.

Samuel was excited to get some new kleats.

One of Lydia's gifts was a new dress-up outfit.

Here is Superman to the rescue.

I received a new marble slab-something I had been wanting for a long time. I have already used it for fudge and it turned out so yummy.

We left early Friday morning to head up north. We stayed all night in mid Georgia and then went to my relatives in northern Kentucky. I am very close to my aunt, uncle, cousins, and their families and can not imagine Christmas without this visit.
Here the kids hold gifts from Erma and Marvin.

We also held a concert in Connersville, Indiana. This was a new experience for our family. The kids played their instruments and we sang together. My dad pastored this church for 10 years and it was a real privilege to go back and visit with friends I had not seen in 22 years.

When we are together with my cousin's kids, they always put on a play. Tim, David, and I find this interesting since we used to do the same thing for our parents. This year Julianna and Brittany (the oldest 2 of the group) did an outstanding job of ordering the other kids around and making sure the Christmas story was told with new meaning.

We celebrated Uncle Marvin's 70th birthday. His family did a great job of making sure he was remembered with style.

Aunt Erma opens the chocolate shells I brought her.

Tim and David doing what we do a lot of at Erma and Marvin's house-eating and visiting.

We all went to the Creation Museum one night for their "Walk through Bethlehem" experience. It was so cold that night. Of course we had to take the kids' pictures again in front of a dinosaur.

Here they pose with the soldier and shepherd.

Freezing outside. Patty and Kelly are behind Erma and Marvin. They faired better in the outside elements than the Bozone bunch. When we went from 70 degree weather to 3 degrees in a couple of days, the Bozone bodies had a little trouble adjusting.

Joseph thought that a dinosaur decorated up with Christmas lights was pretty cool.

We said "good-bye" and headed for my mom's house the Tuesday morning before Christmas. If I had had any idea what kind of trip we were going to have, I would have stayed another night. It usually takes 4 hours to travel from Northern Kentucky to my mom's house in Northern Indiana. The weather was brutal-it took us almost 8 hours to get to our destination. I thought we might not make it. I cried, prayed, and did not dare go to sleep. The freezing rain, dark night, and wrecks everywhere made one nervous mama. After we crossed the Ohio river at 3 miles per hour, they closed it down for 7 hours. I never have been so glad to see the lights of home.

HOME AT LAST!!

Vacation has come to an end. After 3,000 miles of traveling, lots of good memories with family and friends, a few interesting moments(explanation later), we are home. We are very thankful to God for keeping us safe on our 2 week vacation. It is a strange feeling to come home after being with family for awhile. I look forward to returning to Florida, but know I won't see my loved ones until summer. I think I will pray that they get so much snow and ice that I can talk them into visiting the sunny south. Well, my goal for today is to finish unpacking and begin the process of taking all of my Christmas decorations down.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I wanted to take a moment in the midst of a very busy season to wish all my blogger friends a very Merry Christmas.

Happy Anniversary !!

Happy Anniversary to the man of my dreams. We have been married 14 years today. I am living proof that if you leave the choice to God, He gives you the best. There is no way anyone could convince me that our relationship was not meant to be. I know that God, through his providence, brought us together. I will be eternally grateful for that fact.

This picture was taken on our 1st Anniversary.

THE SINGING CHRISTMAS TREE AND TOWN PARADE

I have always been proud of our church and school, but last week really was a time for the cummunity to see Jesus shine through our organizations. The Singing Christmas Tree performed 4 nights. One of the tree performances was on the same day as the Hobe Sound Parade--Saturday afternoon. When you are involved in both, it keeps you hopping. It certainly was an enventful, but rewarding time. I marched in the front of the parade to keep things together and carried water and supplies just in case they were needed.

It is quite the procession--the flags and banners came first with the Marching Band next. (Doyle walked backwards the whole parade-that is why I had to make sure he didn't mow the banners down.) Following the band was the float with kids walking beside it handing our candy.

Lydia got to walk beside the float.

The Happy Birthday Jesus float.

The Nativity-only in the south would they be barefooted.

Joseph rode on the float. The theme was "Happy Birthday to Jesus"--Here everything is ready for the party.

Anthony and Kelly Heath did a fantastic job of getting the float ready and supplying the truck. Anthony makes sure the candles are lit.

Kelly adjusting a party hat.

Doyle fixing a cover on a sousaphone.

Julianna takes a break from playing the cymbals.

Samuel in action.

Doug (from the college) played the quads the whole time, even when the band took a break. He was wiped out when it was all said and done. I told him he would probably be playing them in his sleep.

Tired and thirsty-ready to go home and take a break before performing in the Singing Tree again.

The Singing Christmas Tree

Mr. Mark Going did an incredible job as the director.

Julianna was able to be in the angel choir that did choreography during the Hallelujah Chorus.

Doyle during practice. He directed when Mr. Going was singing.

Doyle practicing with the brass quartet.

The kids watching the artist paint the beautiful town scene.

Julianna catching some of the snow.


Lydia was dressed as a package.


Time for a photo with my sweetie.

Samuel and Joseph dressed as Toy Soldiers.

Here they come-Soldiers on Parade!

Our kids in the stable after the program.

Walking home, lugging the kids after the last performance.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SAMUEL!!!

Yes, we had another birthday at our house. My boys' birthdays are 6 days apart. Samuel turned 10 and this was his year for a party with friends. He wanted a Lego-themed party, which turned out to be a lot of fun.

I took cupcakes and milk to his classroom in the morning.

Samuel helps decorate the cake with sprinkles-lots of sprinkles.

This was my feeble effort at a Lego cake. The kids liked it.

We are ready for the guests to arrive.

We dumped a huge container of Legos of the floor for the kids to make all kinds of creative designs. I like this picture Doyle took of their hands.

Here is the rest of the guests.

Here they play a game trying to drop a Lego into a jar while standing on a stool.

Doyle was right at home with all of these boys. Here he explains the next project.

Gift time.

Guests pose for one more picture.

Birthdays are exhausting for my boys.